Widgi Creek burglary suspect arrested

A 32-year-old Bend man was arrested Thursday, accused of burglarizing at least one and perhaps other homes in the Widgi Creek subdivision west of Bend, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies responded around 9:35 a.m. to a report of a man seen walking from house to house in the 60000 block of Golf Village Loop in Widgi Creek, said sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Dizney.

A resident said the man had knocked on his back door. When the resident asked the man what he was doing, he said he was looking for someone’s house, Dizney said, adding that he’d seen the man at several houses.

A search of the neighborhood led deputies to find Seth Elwood Willing in the driveway of a home in the area, Dizney said. Willing matched the description of witnesses, Dizney said, and deputies determined he had a warrant out for his arrest, for failure to appear on a harassment case.

An investigation led to confirmation from an area resident that Willing had been inside his home, Dizney said. Evidence found at the time of his arrest was collected as possibly stolen property from the area, the lieutenant added.

Willing was lodged at the county jail on the outstanding warrant and a first-degree burglary charge, with bail set at $40,000.

Dizney said it’s not known why Willing was in the neighborhood, whether he was alone and if he may have had a vehicle in the area.

Deschutes County deputies and detectives are looking for any other victims who may have been burglarized in the Widgi Creek area. If they believe they have, they are asked to contact the detective division by calling 911 dispatchers at (541) 693-6911, and reference case number 12-234197.

If you have any information that could help in the case, you can also contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-TIPS, or use the form on KTVZ.COM’s Crime Stoppers page. You can remain anonymous, and you could receive a cash reward.